Guards fuel Warhawks past Dunbar

The way North Chicago coach Gerald Coleman counts it he has seven guards who could start for other teams.

Most people already know about DeShawn Chambliss and Keith Ford of that bunch. Guards like Michael Simpson and Blake Collins are just beginning to make names for themselves.

On Sunday at the MLK Dream Classic at Whitney Young, it was Chambliss who again led the way again with a game-high 27 points for the Warhawks in their 81-74 win over Dunbar, but Simpson and Collins made up for a banged up Ford.

Simpson scored 10 of his 12 points in the decisive third quarter. During an 8-0 run, he hit back-to-back three-pointers to put North Chicago (15-2) ahead by nine points.

“The first half I wasn’t feeling it,” Simpson said. “I turned it on in the third quarter. I felt confident in my jump shot.”

Collins scored all 11 of his points in the second half. In the fourth quarter, he made sure Dunbar didn’t make a comeback by scoring seven points, stealing two passes and grabbing a rebound.

“Blake Collins doesn’t know how good he can be,” Coleman said.

Ford (11 points), Chris Bryant (10 points, 10 rebounds) and Joshua Wright (seven points, 10 rebounds) contributed for North Chicago.

Diamonte Liddel (15 points), Vernard Dillion (19 points) and Damien Robinson (10 points, 10 rebounds) led Dunbar.

North Chicago didn’t look as Sunday’s win just as another one. It was an opportunity for the Warhawks to play in Chicago and before a larger crowd.

“We’re underrated,” Simpson said. “We’re trying to get our name out there.”